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The Border Zone
In order to maintain public order and security, a border zone has been established on Finland’s eastern border. Its maximum breadth is three kilometres on land and four kilometres at sea. The outermost limit of the zone is marked in the terrain using yellow signs, yellow rings painted on trees or yellow plastic tape attached to trees. In waterways the line is marked with yellow buoys, spar buoys and signs. The border zone is specified in greater detail in the Government Decree on the frontier zone and its outermost limit. Permits required on the border zone Access to the border zone requires a border zone permit. Applications can be submitted to the Headquarters of the Border Guard District, a Border Guard Command Post or a Border Guard Station of the District in question. They can also be submitted by post, a courier, representative or assistant or online. Oral applications may also be made. Applicants must verify their identity, give their contact details and present the grounds on which they are applying for the permit. Permits are issued by the district commander. Acceptable grounds for being issued a permit include ownership of a property located in the zone, working in or visiting a friend living in the zone. Permits are issued for a fixed period, but permanent residents in the zone can be issued a permit valid until further notice. Permit holders must always carry their permit while in the zone and present it on request to a Border Guard, Police or Customs officer. A permit authorising the possession and use of firearms and their accessories as well as explosives in the border zone may also be issued. Further information is available from the Border Guard Districts. >> Border zone permit application RTF | PDF  Back | Print page |
